Case for books



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0.3. FOSTER & J. w. HINE.

CASE FOR BOOKS.

No. 480,693. Patented Aug. 9, 1892.

INVENTORS WTNESSES azw/zav 6 0 rwym UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. FOSTER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND JAMES IV. HINE, OF JAMESTOWVN, NEW" YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE FENTON ME- TALILIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF JAMESTOWN, NEIV YORK.

CASE FOR BOOKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,693, dated August 9, 1892.

Application filed February 24, 1891. Serial No. 382.466- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES E. FOSTER, residing at WVashington, District of Columbia, and JAMES \V. HINE, residing at Jamestown,

Chautauqua county, State of New York, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cases for Books, of which the following is a specification.

In that class of cases intended for the storage of books, and more especially those of a fireproof construction for public records, it is common to make use of shelves in the form of metallic frames having roller-bearings for the books, each book lying horizontally upon one of the shelves. This construction has proved to be most acceptable in those cases where the shelves can be made of such a Width as to hold each but a single book or series of books lying end to end. There are circumstances, however, where the available space is such that the requisite number of books cannot be placed in the order named and it becomes necessary to place some of the books in front of the others, and our invention relates to cases constructed to permit this arrangement of books; and it consists in means whereby to render such an arrangement advantageous and to permit access to be had to 0 the books, either at the front or back without displacing those not needed for reference.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a case with movable book-shelves embodying our invention. Fig.

5 2 is a plan view of one of the shelves. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation showing a modification. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan showing another modification. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the shelf shown in Fig. 4. i

The case x is of any suitable construction and is provided with supports for a series of movable shelves or frames A, one above the other, and each provided, preferably, with a front closing-piece 6, although in some in- 5 stances the latter may be omitted. In the construction shown in Fig. 3 the shelf consists of two strips or-boards hinged together at w and sliding upon the side bars a a at opposite sides of the case or at the sides of an upright partition of the case. The shelf A is of sufficient 5o depth to permit two books Y Y to be placed upon the same, one in front of the other, as shown, so that when the shelf is closed or pushed back into the case both the books will be inclosed in the case, and the shelf is provided with bearings so constructed that when it is pulled forward it may be turned down and supported in an upright or inclined position, so as to expose both hooks in such position that either of them may be readily withdrawn without disturbing the other. To this end the front closing-piece 6 constitutes a bearing for one of the books, while the second cross-piece 7 or other suitable projection extending across in a position adjacent to the back edge of the first book constitutes a bearing for the rear book.

Any suitable bearing or support may be employed for holding the shelf in its generallyvertical position when drawn forward. Thus the shelf may be provided at each edge with a hook 8, adapted to engage a stud 9 at the side of the bar a when the shelf reaches its extreme forward position, after which the shelf may swing down in the position shown in Fig.3.

Another shelf made in two sections connected end to end is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

In this construction the shelf is divided about midway between its front and back edges and hinged so that when the shelf is partly drawn out the forward section 1 may be swung down toward a vertical position, while the rear section 2 remainsin place in the case, but in a forward position, exposing the book thereon with its back in line with the forward edge of the other shelves, whereby either book may be removed at pleasure without disturbing the other. In this construction it is preferable that the rear section 2, from which the book may be withdrawn and on which it must be placed horizontally, shall be provided with transverseroller-supports 14, thereby facilitating the operations, and it is also preferable in this construction to provide the rear section with anti-friction rollers 15, so asto reduce the friction in pushing in and drawing out the portion of the shelf that remains horizontal.

The sections of the shelf may be made in any suitable manner; but we prefer the construction shown in the drawings, in which the front section consists of two bars bent to form thesidepiecesyz, connected toand bythe front closing plate or piece 6, the ends of the bar of each piece being separated to receive between them the ends of the side bars5 5 of the back section and pins or bolts 16 passing through the parts, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to form the hinges w w. The bars forming the parts y 2 may be bent in difierent Ways to secure the above-described result, but are preferably bent, as shown, to form the straight side pieces 18 18, the fiat front bearing portions 19, to which the front piece 6 is riveted, and then inward, so as to meet each other and permit the two pieces to be connected by a single transverse bolt '0. lhe back section 2 consists merely of the two side strips 5 5, transverse strips u u, and supporting-rolls 14. By this means the front section of the frame consists of three parts connected by three rivets or bolts, while the joints between the two sections are formed simply by the transverse rivets.

The first section 1 may be hinged to swing laterally instead of downward, in which case the joint is vertical and at one side, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. 7

Without limiting ourselves to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown, we claim 1. A book-case provided with a horizontal book-supporting shelf divided between its ends into two sections which are hinged together to permit the forward section to swing at an angle to the inner one in order to expose the book upon the inner section when it is drawn out from the case, each section being adapted to receive and support a book, substantially as described.

2. A book-case provided with horizontal sliding shelves, each in two sections hinged together end to end to permit the forward section to swing down when withdrawn and with a support 6 for a book when the section is in its outer position upon the forward section, substantially as set forth.

3. A book-case provided with horizontal sliding shelves, each in two sections hinged together end to end, the rear section provided with roller-supports for a book, substantially as set forth.

4. A book-case provided with horizontal shelves, each in two sections hinged end to end, the rear sections having anti-friction rollers resting upon horizontal guides, substantially as described.

5. A shelf for a book-case, in two sections hinged together end to end to aiford independent supports for two books, one in front of the other, substantially as set forth.

6. A shelf for a book-case, consisting of two sections hinged together end to end, the rear section provided with roller-bearings, substantially as described.

7. A shelf for books, consisting of two sections hinged together, the front section consisting of a front plate 6, and two parts 'y z, a

formed by bending the bars to form side pieces 18, front bearings 19, and to receive between their ends the bars of the rear section, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. FOSTER. JAMES W. HINE. Witnesses to Charles E. Foster:

F. L. FREEMAN, W. S. MoARTHUR. Witnesses to James W. Hine:

CHAS. J. J ENNER, A. A. WALKER. 

